Insulator-support.



C. L. PEIRCE, In.

INSULATQR SUPPORT. APPLICATION FILED APR. 6. 1916.

1,210,686. I Patented Jan. 2,1917.

UNITED STATES PATENT cannon.

CHARLES I1. PEIRCE, JR., OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OFONE-HALF TO HUBBARD & (30., OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATIONOF PENN- SYLVAN IA.

INSULATOR-SUPPORT.

Application filed April 6, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES L. Pnmcn, J12, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny andState of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Insulator-Supports, of which the followin is a specification.

Ty invention relates to insulator supports particularly to that class inwhich a thimble structure of comparatively thin sheet metal is securedto a bracket member or pin 7 of heavier material such as cast iron orsheet metal. In supports of this class the thimble structure isfrequently sub-divided by longitudinal slits o'r gaps in order that thesections thereof may yield radially to prevent breakage of or theintroduction of strains into the insulator and also to yield duringexpansion and contraction during changes of temperature. During ordinaryservice of an insulator these thimble structure sections will retaintheir springiness and elasticity but, when underextraordinary conditionsthe sections may become permanently bent so that the insulator willbecome loosened. An example of such extraordinary service is where wiresare dead-ended on the insulator and exert considerable lateral pullthereon against the corresponding thimble sections.

The object of my invention is to provide improved means which will notinterfere with proper yielding of the thimble structure when theinsulator is applied but which, after seating of the insulator, willprevent the sections from giving or becoming permanently bent and whichwill securely lock the insulator against rotation or displacement duringservice yet which will permit ready removal of the insulator whendesired.

My improved means is preferably in the form of wedge mechanism which isactuated by an insulator during its final seating movement and whichacts to expand the thimble sections to clamp them securely against theinsulator inner sides.

On the accompanying drawing I have shown an insulator support in theform of a bracket to which my invention has been applied.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the support withthe thimble structure and locking attachment in unlocking position, thethimble structure being partly in Section, Fig. 2 is a similar viewSpecification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 2, 1917.

Serial No. 89,366.

showing an insulator applied and the attachment and the lockingmechanism in locking position, and Fig. 3 is a top view of the thimblestructure with the wedge member removed.

The support shown comprises the U- shaped bracket member whose body part10 is of arched or U-sha-ped cross-section, the limbs 11 and 12 beingparallel or, at angles with each other but at the inner end of the bodybeing brought together to form the seat 6 of circular cross-section. Anysuitable means may be provided for supporting the bracket to thesupport. As shown wings 13 are provided at the inner end and havethe'bolt holes 14. The thimble structure T shown comprises the twohalves 15 and 16 of semi-circular cross-section secured at their basesto the seat 6 by a rivet 17. The halves or sections 15 and 16 areseparated a distance at' their vertical edges by gaps 18 and 19, suchgaps permitting radial yield of the sectionsduring application ofinsulators. During service under ordinary conditions the sections willretain their springiness and elasticity an d'will clamp the insulatorsufliciently to'hold it in place. However, under extraordinaryconditions and strain the sections may become permanently bent in whichcase the insulator becomes loosened and the efiiciency of the structureis destroyed. The mechanism I have shown for preventing such permanentbending and for firmly keeping the thimble and insulator locked togethercomprises a wedge member or button 20 which cooperates with inclinedwalls 21 and 22 extending from the thimble halves 15 and 16. As shown,these walls 21 and 22 are integral with the thimble halves and are inthe form of tongues bent diagonally downwardly into the thimblestructure with their ends 23 and 24 deflected radially outwardly againstthe thimble halves to support the walls 21 and 22 in their diagonalposition. The wedge button 20 has a head 25 which extends over the topof the thimble to limit the inward movement of the wedge button,

and the top of the head is rounded to re ture and insulator securelytogether. Such clamping engagement will not destroy the yieldingproperties of the thimble sections but will prevent permanent bending ofthe thimble sections under extraordinary load orstrain. Neither will itinterfere with the ready removal of the insulator for immediately afterthe insulator is started to be unscrewed its pressure against the wedgebutton will be released and the thimble sections unclamped from theinsulator whereafter the insulator can be readily removed.

The wedge button may be of metal, wood, fiber, or any other suitablematerial and may be of cylindrical, polygonal, or other cross-section.Instead of having the thimble structure divided only into two parts asshown, it could be further sub-divided and a correspondin number ofinclined walls extended there rom to cooperate with the wedge button.Other changes and modifications are also possible which would still comewithin the scope of the invention and I do not therefore desire to belimited to the precise constructions and arrangements shown anddescribed.

I claim as follows:

1. In an insulator support, the combination with an insulator receivingend divided longitudinally into sections having internal wedgeabutments, a wedge member asso ciated with said abutments, and a headfor the Wedge member overhanging the insulator receiving end to limitthe downward movement of the wedge member between the abutments.

2. In an insulator support, the combination with an insulator receivingend divided longitudinally into sections having internal wedgeabutments, a wedge member asso ciated with said abutments, a head forthe wedge member overhanging the insulator receiving end to limit thedownward movement of the wedge member between the abutments, and anenlargement or knob at the lower end of said wedge member for limitingthe upper movement thereof.

3. In an insulator support, the combina tion with a hollow radiallyexpansible insulator receiving end having wedge abutments, a wedgebetween said abutments, and upper and lower stop abutments on said wedgefor limiting the movement thereof, said upper stop abutment being inposition to be engaged by the top of an insulator applied to said endand to be shifted downwardly with the insulator to exert wedging actionon the wedge abutments.

4. In an insulator support, the combination with a yieldable sheet metalthreaded insulator receiving end, sections of said sheet metal end beingdeflected diagonally inwardly to form opposed wedging surfaces, and awedge member between said surfaces in the path of an insulator appliedto said end to be forced between said wedging surfaces to cause the endto expand and clamp the insulator.

5. In an insulator support, the combination with a threaded sheet metalinsulator receiving end subdivided vertically into sections, tonguesdeflected diagonally inwardly from said sections to form wedgingsurfaces, and a wedge between said surfaces in the path of an insulatorapplied to said end to be shifted along said wedge surfaces to causeradial separation of the sections into clamping engagement with theinsulator.

6. In an insulator support, the combination with a threaded sheet metalinsulator receiving end sub-divided vertically into sec tions, tonguesdeflected diagonally inwardly from said sections to form wedgingsurfaces, a wedge between said surfaces in the path of an insulatorapplied to said end to be shifted along said wedge surfaces to causeradial separation of the sections into clamping engagement with theinsulator, and abutments on said wedge for limiting its movements.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand this 26th day of February, A.D. 1916.

CHARLES L. PEIROE, JR.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C.

